FA CUP REPORT: Squires Gate 1 Droylsden 0

Gate won this FA Cup preliminary round tie at the second attempt against a Droylsden side who play a level above them in the Evo-Stik League.

One early strike by Ben Reader was enough to settle this replay after the teams had shared eight goals in Manchester 10 days earlier.

Gate we’re still missing five players but welcomed back key striker Ric Seear after injury.

The Bloods appeared to be looking for blood in the early stages, haunted by memories of Gate’s comeback in their first encounter.

Brett Dawson had Gate’s first effort but his low shot bobbled into the keeper’s arms after five minutes.

Seear was next to bear down on goal after Joey Mullen found his run into the box, but Droylsden recovered well to dispossess him on the edge of the box.

Seear went close again when Ryan Charnley found him but fired wide of the far post.

Gate capitalised on these early chances after 12 minutes, when defender Ben Reader scored his second goal of the season.

The defender was unmarked at the back post to tap in and give Gate a lead they would never lose.

Droylsden became frustrated as the half went on and resorted to first-time shots, but Gate defended well and stood up firmly to everything thrown at them.

Ryan Riley and Joey Mullen had Gate’s last chances of the first half but neither could make them count.

First Riley stung the keeper’s palms before the ball fell to Joey Mullen, who fired over.

The visitors piled on the pressure as the second half got under way. Corners and free-kicks repeatedly came into Gate’s box but their defence was not stretched.

Riley, who was one of Gate’s stand-out players, went on a mazy run on the hour to win a corner which was cleared.

Droylsden did play their way into Gate’s box after 65 minutes but keeper Ben Fletcher did well to save one on one.

Gate used their experience from back to front to see out the closing stages, though they were relieved to see striker Sefton Gonzales head wide in the last minute.

Their reward is a tie at home to unbeaten Hallmark Security League premier division rivals City of Liverpool in the first qualifying round this Saturday.

Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Rossall, Reader, Gray, Riley, Charnley, Mullen, Salthouse, Seear, Dawson. Subs: Jones, Hargreaves, Clarkson, Bamba, Gibson.